The Sealing Work – Steps to Life

July 19 – 25, 2026

Key Text

“Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My disciples.” Isaiah 8:16

Study Help: Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 978–982; Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 207–216

Introduction

“Those who belong to the Lord’s kingdom must work earnestly for the saving of souls. They must do their part to bind up the law and seal it among the disciples.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 332

Sunday

1 THE SEAL OF GOD IS RECOVERED

1.a. What is the seal of God and where is it found? Exodus 20:8–11. Among whom is the seal of God to be restored and how? Isaiah 8:16

Note: “The seal of God’s law is found in the fourth commandment. This only, of all the ten, brings to view both the name and the title of the Lawgiver. It declares Him to be the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and thus shows His claim to reverence and worship above all others. Aside from this precept, there is nothing in the Decalogue to show by whose authority the law is given. When the Sabbath was changed by the papal power, the seal was taken from the law. The disciples of Jesus are called upon to restore it by exalting the Sabbath of the fourth commandment to its rightful position as the Creator’s memorial and the sign of His authority.” The Great Controversy, 452

1.b. How can we be sure that this restoration is to be carried on in the Christian Era? (Compare Isaiah 8:16, 14 with 1 Peter 2:7–9.)

Monday

2 A VISIBLE SIGN OF DISTINCTION

2.a. How were the Israelites distinguished from the idolaters after their deliverance from Egypt? Exodus 31:13–17

Note: “When the Lord delivered His people Israel from Egypt and committed to them His law, He taught them that by the observance of the Sabbath they were to be distinguished from idolaters. It was this that made the distinction between those who acknowledge the sovereignty of God and those who refuse to accept Him as their Creator and King.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 349

2.b. How are God’s people to be distinguished from the world today? Ezekiel 20:20

Note: “As the Sabbath was the sign that distinguished Israel when they came out of Egypt to enter the earthly Canaan, so it is the sign that now distinguishes God’s people as they come out from the world to enter the heavenly rest. The Sabbath is a sign of the relationship existing between God and His people, a sign that they honor His law. It distinguishes between His loyal subjects and transgressors.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 349, 350

Tuesday

3 THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

3.a. What invisible power must be working in our life so that we may receive the seal of God? Ephesians 4:30. However, what fruits must be visible? Galatians 5:22, 23

Note: “What is the seal of the living God, which is placed in the foreheads of His people? It is a mark which angels, but not human eyes, can read; for the destroying angel must see this mark of redemption. The intelligent mind has seen the sign of the cross of Calvary in the Lord’s adopted sons and daughters. The sin of the transgression of the law of God is taken away. They have on the wedding garment, and are obedient and faithful to all God’s commands.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 968

3.b. How does the Holy Spirit seal a person? John 16:13. And what is the truth? John 17:17; Psalm 119:142

Note: “The work of the Holy Spirit is to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. The world can only be warned by seeing those who believe the truth sanctified through the truth, acting upon high and holy principles, showing in a high, elevated sense, the line of demarcation between those who keep the commandments of God and those who trample them under their feet. The sanctification of the Spirit signalizes the difference between those who have the seal of God and those who keep a spurious rest day.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 980

“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved—just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already.” Ibid., Vol. 4, 1161

Wednesday

4 A SPECIAL CLASS

4.a What are the characteristics of the 144,000 sealed saints? Revelation 14:1–5, 12; Psalm 15

Note: “ ‘And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.’ Revelation 14:1–4. This scripture represents the character of the people of God for these last days.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 977, 978

“The mighty power of the Holy Spirit works an entire transformation in the character of the human agent, making him a new creature in Christ Jesus. When a man is filled with the Spirit, the more severely he is tested and tried, the more clearly he proves that he is a representative of Christ. The peace that dwells in the soul is seen on the countenance. The words and actions express the love of the Saviour. There is no striving for the highest place. Self is renounced. The name of Jesus is written on all that is said and done.

“We may talk of the blessings of the Holy Spirit, but unless we prepare ourselves for its reception, of what avail are our works? Are we striving with all our power to attain to the stature of men and women in Christ? Are we seeking for His fullness, ever pressing toward the mark set before us—the perfection of His character? When the Lord’s people reach this mark, they will be sealed in their foreheads.” The Review and Herald, June 10, 1902

4.b. How many conquerors will there be under the threefold message? Revelation 7:4. Why so few? Luke 13:23–25

Note: “The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice [of God], while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake.” Early Writings, 15

“Only those who receive the seal of the living God will have the passport through the gates of the Holy City. But there are many who take upon themselves responsibilities in connection with the work of God who are not wholehearted believers, and while they remain thus cannot receive the seal of the living God.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 970

“Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand.” The Review and Herald, March 9, 1905

Thursday

5 A CLEAR DISTINCTION

5.a. Why will many believers in the third angel’s message be left without the seal of God? Ezekiel 9:2–8; 33:31

Note: “Those that overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, will be the favored ones who shall receive the seal of the living God. Those whose hands are not clean, whose hearts are not pure, will not have the seal of the living God. Those who are planning sin and acting it will be passed by. Only those who, in their attitude before God, are filling the position of those who are repenting and confessing their sins in the great antitypical day of atonement, will be recognized and marked as worthy of God’s protection. The names of those who are steadfastly looking and waiting and watching for the appearing of their Saviour—more earnestly and wishfully than they who wait for the morning—will be numbered with those who are sealed. Those who, while having all the light of truth flashing upon their souls, should have works corresponding to their avowed faith, but are allured by sin, setting up idols in their hearts, corrupting their souls before God, and polluting those who unite with them in sin, will have their names blotted out of the book of life, and be left in midnight darkness, having no oil in their vessels with their lamps. ‘Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings.’ Malachi 4:2

“This sealing of the servants of God is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision. John also had been a witness of this most startling revelation.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 445

5.b. What is the great burden of those who will be sealed? Ezekiel 9:4. What separation must be completed before they can receive the seal of God’s approval and protection?

Note: “Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would reprove sin? Is it those who take their stand against them and sympathize with those who commit wrong? No, indeed! Unless they repent, and leave the work of Satan in oppressing those who have the burden of the work and in holding up the hands of sinners in Zion, they will never receive the mark of God’s sealing approval. They will fall in the general destruction of the wicked, represented by the work of the five men bearing slaughter weapons. Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those ‘that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done’ in the church. Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in agony, even sighing and crying. Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, 267

“The angel is to place a mark upon the forehead of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the destroying angel will follow, to slay utterly both old and young.” Ibid., Vol. 5, 505

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

Why is the Sabbath of the fourth commandment so significant?
What does the Sabbath reveal about those who seek to keep it holy?
How does the seal of God involve more than just the seventh day?
Why will many professing Sabbath keepers be sadly disappointed at the judgment bar of God?
In view of this solemn message, what is our responsibility?